Water and Fire~Chapter 31.3: Restraint

 

Chapter 31.3: Restraint

Ren Yan glanced at her twice, didn't respond, and turned to leave. Once outside, he realized how hasty his departure had been. He hadn't gotten around to saying something he needed to say. He'd been so flattered by her sweet words.

He pushed the door open again and heard Qin Qianyu saying to Chu Qianmiao, "Qianmiao, I'm truly impressed by your eloquence. If you try to coax someone, you'll definitely be able to make them lose their minds! I think President Ren was a little confused just now."

His back was to the door, so he didn't see Ren Yan push the door open again.

Ren Yan walked over and slapped him on the back of the head. "Who did you learn this from? You're becoming more and more naive? Huh?"

Qin Qianyu covered the back of his head and winked at Chu Qianmiao, blaming her for not tipping off.

Chu Qianmiao felt wronged. She thought to herself, your leaders are so elusive when they come up here, like celestial beings. No one can escape the curse of Ren Yan finding out if they talk behind your back.

Ren Yan began to explain to Qin Qianyu what he should do during his absence, and what materials he should compile and send to him.

After he finished, he suddenly looked up and said, "Chu Qianmiao."

He called out to Chu Qianmiao again.

"Here!" Chu Qianmiao replied immediately.

Ren Yan paused for a moment, then said, "While I'm gone, ignore Kan Qingzhou, the head of the next department. He's unreliable and can easily be tricked."

"Okay!" Chu Qianmiao felt a sudden sense of care.

With that, Ren Yan left again. This time, he left completely, without the clatter of doors opening and closing.

Only after Qin Qianyu was certain he wouldn't be back did he dare to join the other three, Sun Yi, Lu Zhong'er, and Wang Sian, in complaining:

"Oh my god! Did I hear that right? No, right? President Ren was talking about Old Kan behind his back, wasn't he?"

"Oh my god! Is this the first time President Ren has ever talked about someone behind their back?"

"Oh my god! I'm going to send a WeChat message to those idiots on that other project, telling them we had President Ren's first time, and they can't compare!"

"Oh my god! I'll never see this again!"

Chu Qianmiao was a little confused and asked Qin Qianyu what had just happened. Qin Qianyu simply told her: President Ren never says anything bad about people behind their backs, even if the person is truly not very good. But he just mentioned Old Kan next door.

Somehow, hearing this, Chu Qianmiao felt like a thousand little fountains erupted in her heart, splashing and pouring water onto her heart, making it wet and heavy.

Chu Qianmiao went to the tea room that afternoon to make tea for everyone. Returning to the conference room, she brought it to everyone.

As she brought it to Qin Qianyu, her eyes flickered to the piece of paper with Ren Yan's ID card.

She immediately recognized Ren Yan's birthday.

It was next week.

Chu Qianmiao pointed at the paper and said to Qin Qianyu, "Brother Qin, look!"

Qin Qianyu turned around and looked. "Wow!" he exclaimed. "Mr. Ren's birthday is next week! You women are so attentive! I didn't even notice after booking the ticket!"

Chu Qianmiao rested her elbows on the table, hunched over, a sly look on her face. She said to Qin Qianyu, "Isn't this Mr. Ren's 30th birthday? Thirty is the turning point in life. This is a big birthday!"

She channeled Qin Qianyu's emotions, and he immediately said, "Of course it is. Especially for us men, this is a turning point in life. It's a birthday we should celebrate!"

Sun Yi followed up, "How about we throw Mr. Ren a 30th birthday party?"

Lu Zhonger and Wang Si'an both agreed, "Sure, sure!"

Qin Qianyu frowned. "I'd love to, but the problem is, even if we throw him a party, he won't come, right? Think about it, given Mr. Ren's usual behavior, is there any chance he'll come to the party?" Sun Yi, Lu Zhong'er, and Wang Sian all sighed.

Yes, he won't be coming. So, there's only one possible scenario: the group of people who attended the party will throw a birthday party for the absentee.

Chu Qianmiao said, "Even if he doesn't come, he'll still reimburse everyone's party, right?"

Qin Qianyu's eyes lit up at that: "Of course he will!"

Chu Qianmiao: "Then should we still have a birthday party for him?"

Qin Qianyu, Sun Yi, and the other four nodded in unison: "Yes!"

Qin Qianyu said happily, "If he doesn't come to eat and drink, we can eat and drink more for him! At twelve o'clock, we'll put up his photo and bow to him and say happy birthday together. Perfect!"

Everyone then immersed themselves in discussions about where to hold the party, what to eat, and what to drink. Chu Qianmiao wondered, could Ren Yan really not attend his own birthday party in person?

Ren Yan returned to Beijing after a four-day business trip. He didn't go to the office, but went straight home.

The next day was his birthday, and a party was held that evening.

After work, Qin Qianyu called Ren Yan and said, "Mr. Ren, tomorrow is your birthday. We've prepared a lively and grand birthday party for you. Qian Miao was the one who came up with the idea. I'm sure you'll be delighted. Would you please come and attend your own birthday party?"

As expected, Ren Yan thanked them for their thoughtfulness, then said, "You guys go ahead and have fun. I won't be going. Get invoices for your food and drinks, and I'll reimburse you later through my account."

Qin Qianyu hung up the phone, a look of "Did you see what I said?" on his face: "Mr. Ren isn't coming!"

Sun Yi spread his hands, slightly frustrated, and said to Chu Qianmiao, "Look, we're all so eager to show our support, but we can't even attract Mr. Ren's cold shoulder."

Chu Qianmiao gritted her teeth and said, "I'll try again!"

The others encouraged her, believing that based on the principle that working together is less tiring, Ren Yan might give Chu Qianmiao a cold shoulder.

Chu Qianmiao dialed the number with a heroic gesture. As soon as the call connected, she blurted out, "Wow? Senior, isn't it a coincidence that today is also my birthday! What a fate we have! Senior, come out? Let's celebrate together!"

Qin Qianyu and the others gave her thumbs-up, praising her ability to spin a yarn.

But Ren Yan's words petrified Chu Qianmiao.

"Aren't you a Virgo? Then your birthday would have already passed." After a pause, he said, "You guys go have fun. I'm not coming."

Chu Qianmiao: "………………………………"

Chu Qianmiao's mind was filled with countless "f*cks."

She had mentioned that time, when she'd been driving Ren Yan and endlessly adjusting the seat and steering wheel, that she was a Virgo and couldn't drive unless she was comfortable.

How did Ren Yan remember that?!?!